Beauty As The Beast

O N E (2/2)

Maaga akong nagising kahit wala akong pasok. It’s Friday morning. Friday to Sunday ang pahinga ko and every Wednesday naman, hindi ako required na mag-stay sa ospital buong araw. But like always, every Physician in FGH is available on-call when their own patients call for them.

Pagbaba sa kitchen, Angel is preparing breakfast. Isa sa mga gusto ko kay Angel, e, ‘yung pagiging rebelde niya, may kasamang pagiging independent. Maaasahan sa bahay at kayang-kayang buhayin ang sarili.

“I hope you’re hungry,” she says.

“It’s five in the morning and you’re already up. What are you preparing?”

“Clubhouse sandwiches, bacons, and salad.” After this, nilapag niya ‘yung mga hinanda niya sa table. “Orange juice?”

“Sure,” I answer, taking one of the sandwiches to my plate. “May lakad ka ba?”

“Nah. We can play.” She places a glass of orange juice next to my plate. “Wala ka namang pasok, right? Otherwise, you’re already skipping breakfast and running your lungs out of the door.”

I nod, taking a bite. “This tastes good.”

She smirks at me. “Ako pa ba, Ate?”

“Don’t call me that. I don’t want to p**e everything I just took in.”

Tinawanan lang niya ako. “Ewan ko sa ‘yo, Issay.”

She starts with her food, too, pero napansin kong napapangiti siya habang nakatitig sa ‘kin. Of course, I feel conscious kahit pa kapatid ko ‘tong si Angel.

“What?” I ask.

“That friend of yours. ‘Yung dating singer? I saw her yesterday in a flower shop.”

“Spring Breeze?”

“Yep.”

“What about her?”

“Wala lang,” she dismissively answers. “She’s cute.”

“Hmm.”

“Like really,” Angel goes on. “If I’m not in a relationship, I’d tap that girl, you know.”

“But you are in a relationship. With my friend, need I remind you.”

“Hindi naman alam ni Spring Breeze ‘yan. And she would never know. Would you tell her?”

“Angel, stop it.”

She just gives me a shrug.

“You can play around with any girl or guy, for that matter,” I say. “But please don’t hurt the people who don’t deserve to be hurt.”

“Are you still pertaining to Tracy? Or you’re feeling territorial over your singing ‘friend’?”

Hindi ako sumagot. I hate it when people—particularly the other doctors in the hospital—tease me about Bree. And now, even my sister is adding up to those people. We’re pretty close, okay. So what?

“If you like her, you better start making your move, Isabelle,” Angel adds. “Or else, if you’ve ever met T. Ally, mauunahan ka niya. Balita ko, she also has an eye for your girl.”

“T. Ally is obviously dating Winter Snow.”

“And who’s to say it’s not all for a show? T. Ally and Winter Snow are close friends. Winter Snow is not even out of her closet yet, but I feel the rainbow colors of her blood. I met these people in person, Isabelle. I spent a night with them in a drinking session and I’m telling you—they’re not in a relationship. That gives T. Ally a better chance at getting Spring Breeze herself.”  She takes a big bite of her sandwich before finally saying, “And trust me when I say that T. Ally is so good with words, you’d forget your own vocabulary.”

Tinapos ko na lang ang pagkain ko kesa intindihin ko pa ‘yan. I mean, I’m not confused nor am I worried if I turn out to like someone of the same gender. Hindi siya gano’n ka-big deal para sa ‘kin. Unlike others who’d have to go through the agony of inner battles because they can’t accept the fact that they’re gay.

Though I’m not sure if Bree is open to that idea. She tends to be too righteous at times that it scares me. Ang alam ko lang, she just recently had a heartbreak that she would never tell me about. Kaya if I ever figure out that I like her, how am I supposed to tell her about it? Again, hindi sa idea ng same s*x relationship ang iniisip ko. But the idea of relationship itself. Handa na ba siya sa gano’n? At handa na ba ako sa gano’n, e, we barely even know each other for long?

By six in the morning, we’re already out in the people’s park to play Tennis. Wala pang tao rito sa ganitong oras, it only starts getting crowded with kids by ten in the morning. Naglaro kami ni Angel until seven, losing track of our scores.

“May pupuntahan muna ako, ah?” she cracks as we sit next to each other sa bermuda grass, while drinking water.

“Himala ata na nagpapaalam ka.”

“May pupuntahan ako. Malayo. Magtatagal ako so I’m letting you know.”

“You don’t have to inform me. Alam ba ni Tracy?”

Hindi siya nakasagot agad so I’m forced to take a look at her.

“Alam ba niya?” I repeat.

“I’m breaking it off with Tracy,” she says.

Lalo akong nawalan ng sasabihin. Of course I initially have a violent reaction in my head pero kung iisipin, isn’t it better that she’d just let go of Tracy instead of staying in a relationship with her but constantly make her feel single?

“This decision is more for her than for me,” she explains further. “I think you can understand.”

“Yes, I understand,” sabi ko na lang.

And that is exactly why I don’t want to be in a relationship with anyone yet. Paano kung maramdaman ko ‘yung nararamdaman ni Angel ngayon? Like before, asar-asaran lang din ‘yung sa kanila ni Tracy. Hanggang eventually, nagkatuluyan sila. But then after several months, nag-fade na para kay Angel ‘yung hype at ganito ang naging resulta. Parang bubblegum na ang tamis sa umpisa hanggang mawala ‘yung lasa.

Back home, nagbasa ako ng pang-apat na novel na tinatapos ko this week. At dahil interesting ang kwento, mas mabilis kong natapos at nag-umpisa na agad ako sa pang-limang libro ko ngayong linggo, it’s not even Saturday yet.

Nag-stop lang ako when my phone rings.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Hey. How are you?”

I check on my screen to see if I’m hearing the voice right. “Bree? What’s up?”

“Parang nagtataka ka. Masama bang tumawag?”

“I didn’t say that. I’m just not used to it—receiving personal calls, I mean. May problema ba?”

“Everything’s fine, doc. Anong oras ba bukas? And what’s our plan?”

Ang totoo, I just want to spend time with her but of course it would be awkward if I tell her that. “Uhm... What do you have in mind?”

“The Centre?”

Seriously? The Centre is a Sports Boutique near Dominique Malls North, one of the many malls owned by the Larquezas. Maraming sikat na athletes ang madalas nando’n kaya exclusive lang ‘yung outlet sa iilang tao. And I find it weird na nagyayaya siyang magpunta sa gano’ng lugar samantalang alam naman niya na baka may media. Knowing Bree, she isn’t the type who’d like to get the attention of many.

“Okay,” I still answer.

“Anong oras?”

“Early in the morning? I don’t know. Maybe we can play a round or two then just jog our way there afterwards. Unless of course if you’re planning to go there from your house.”

“You mean, you’re giving me a consent to visit your home?”

My eyebrow arches. “Whatever gave you the impression that I’m not going to let you see where I live, if you ever decided to surprise me with a visit?”

“Considering the fact that you are neatly reserved, I figured you’re the kind of person who keeps everything a secret.”

“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, babe. I just thought it would be very unfair of me to keep my address a secret when I’ve seen your home a couple of times.”

Narinig ko siyang natawa. “Did you just call me ‘babe’?”

“Guni-guni mo lang ‘yon. See you tomorrow,” I say and end the call.

Hindi ako sanay sa phone conversations, obviously. May times na marami akong nasasabi through texts and emails but when I have to speak it out, I end up being quiet or being awkward. That’s probably why I have a very limited number of friends.

By afternoon, I receive a text from Tracy that Angel is asking to meet with her. Hindi na ako sumagot kasi sa dating ng text niya, parang nararamdaman na rin niya kung anong mangyayari and saying something to it might just break her down even worse.

Nag-open ako ng emails after finishing a few chapters in the novel I’m reading. For some reason, may hinahanap akong message pero hindi ko naman maintindihan kung ano ‘yung hinahanap ko. I just stare at my screen for some time and when I still can’t figure out what exactly I’m looking or waiting for, I turn it off. Saktong nag-ring ‘yung phone ko.

“Doc, FGH North. We have an emergency. Food poisoning. Seven or eight years old. Wala pong senior staff na may permisong mag-asikaso.”

“What’s the Triage Category?” I ask, mentally preparing myself to leave.

“Prio 2 po.”

“Alright. Give me ten minutes. You know the drill,” I say, standing up from my seat.

Pagdating sa ospital, after taking care of the kid from ER, nakasalubong ko si Cash sa hallway before I reach my office. May bitbit siyang bata, about two or three years old, na natutulog.

“Kaninong anak ‘yan?” is my initial reaction, making both of us stop on our own tracks.

He smiles the kind of smile that would make anyone’s heart flutter. “He’s gorgeous, right? Pamangkin ko ‘to. I can’t wait to have one of my own.”

I smile back at him because his happiness is infectious. “Well, you might wanna start looking for a girlfriend first before thinking about making a baby.”

He squints his eyes at me. “You’re a terrible person, Doc Gomez.”

Natawa lang ako as he walks away from me at sinundan ko siya ng tingin habang paulit-ulit niyang hinahalikan ‘yung bata. Shaking my head, I continue walking towards my office and accidentally bump into someone because I’m stupid enough not to look my way.

“Oh, s**t,” I instinctively blurt out.

“Watch where the f**k you’re going, alright?”

My eyes bulge as I realize that I’m looking at a person—a woman, in particular—with face covered in blood. I vaguely note that her accent is a bit different. “Oh, my God. Nurse, I need a wheelchair!”

Mabilis namang kumilos ang isang nurse mula sa station na nakarinig sa ‘kin. I put my kit on the floor habang inaalalayan ‘yung babae. She’s technically about an inch taller kaya hindi naman ako masyadong nahirapan kasi hindi ko kailangang yumuko. Matangkad siya para sa isang babae; to think na matangkad na nga ako tapos mas mataas pa siya.

And... damn. That’s one heavy smell of rusty metal with a faint mix of a strawberry scent.

Siguradong kanina pa ‘tong injury niya dahil natuyo na ‘yung ibang dugo. Kalat-kalat na ‘yung dugo sa upper part ng katawan niya kaya amoy kalawang. The blood dripping from her face is all over my lab coat now, too.

“Uh, seriously, I don’t... I don’t think I need that rolling chair. I can walk my way to a doctor or something,” she slurs.

“Well, news flash, miss. I am the doctor. I’m one of the ER doctors here. Now you might want to hang on tight as we wait for the nurse to be back,” I tell her. “And please, it’s a ‘wheelchair’.” With the accent and all, I can tell that she’s more familiar with the English language than our usual vernacular so we won’t have any problems. “What are you doing here, anyway?”

I’m asking her questions because I need her to stay conscious. But perhaps the creative side of this person is more awake than her normal consciousness as she answers me with, “Why, it’s a hospital, of course. Do you expect me to go see a bartender or a priest in this state?”

I almost push her off for answering that way. “What I meant was, why are you in a hallway instead of heading straight to the ER? What, you decide you want to take a walk before finding the mood to get attended by ER people?”

“I... I wasn’t sure if I actually needed to be in ER. I mean, I’m used to... h-heading... straight to someone—”

Tumingin ako sa nurse station to see if the nurse is back. “You have blood all over your face. And who’s to say you don’t have any other wounds? Of course, you should be in ER. What’s your name?”

When I look up at her, I realize that she’s stopped talking because she’s staring intently at me.

“What?” I ask.

“s**t,” she grunts. Tinanggal niya 'yung braso niyang inakbay ko sa balikat ko. Instead, she supports her dizzy self by leaning against the closest wall. “Isabelle?!”

In that instant, as I finally get myself familiarized by her tall and fit physique, the burning mix of greenish gray and blue in her eyes, and the ash blonde hair, I take a safe step back because...

Who the hell forgets this lady?

No one.

Not a single one.

Not even me.

I have loathed her my entire college days and now, I’m standing face-to-face again with the girl who made the first four straight years of my college a living hell. Oh, well. We meet again...

Autumn Leaf Larqueza.